WHAT WE BELIEVE

1. GOD
We believe there is only one God, who is eternally self-existent in three distinct but equal persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth. He is the almighty Creator; Saviour and Judge who sustains and governs all things according to his sovereign will and for his own glory.

2. THE BIBLE
We believe that God has revealed himself in the Bible, which consists of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments alone. Every word was inspired by God through human authors, so that the Bible as originally given is in its entirety the Word of God, without error and fully reliable in fact and doctrine. The Bible alone speaks with final authority and is always sufficient for all matters of belief and practice. Its authority is derived from its Author and not from the opinions of men.

3. THE HUMAN RACE
We believe that all men and women, being created in the image of God, have inherent and equal dignity and worth. Their greatest purpose is to obey, worship and love God. We believe that God made our first father Adam perfect, holy and upright. He was appointed representative and head of the human race thereby exposing all his offspring to the effects of his obedience or disobedience to God's commands. Since Adam disobeyed God, every aspect of human nature has been corrupted and all men and women are without spiritual life, guilty sinners and hostile to God. Every person is therefore under the just condemnation of God and needs to be born again, forgiven and reconciled to God in order to know and please him.

4. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God - the second person of the godhead - and is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life in obedience to the Father. He taught with authority and all his words are true. On the cross he died in the place of sinners, bearing God's punishment for their sin, redeeming them by his blood. He rose from the dead and in his resurrection body ascended into heaven where he intercedes for his people in the presence of the Father and rules over all things for their sake.

5. SALVATION
We believe that salvation is entirely a work of God's grace and cannot be earned or deserved. It has been accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ and is offered to all in the gospel. God in his love forgives sinners whom he calls to himself, granting them repentance and faith and imputing to them the righteousness of Christ. All who believe in Christ are justified by faith alone, receive eternal life, are adopted into the family of God, persevere in holiness and never finally fall away.

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT
We believe the Holy Spirit has been sent from heaven to glorify Christ and to apply his work of salvation. He convicts sinners, imparts spiritual life and gives a true understanding of the Scriptures. He indwells all believers, brings assurance of salvation and produces increasing likeness to Christ. He builds up the Church and empowers its members for worship and service.

7. THE CHURCH
We believe the universal Church is the body of which Christ is the head and to which all who are saved belong. It is made visible in local churches, which are congregations of believers who are committed to each other for the worship of God, the preaching of the Word, the administering of the ordinances (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), for pastoral care and discipline, and for evangelism. The unity of the body of Christ is expressed within and between churches by mutual love, care and encouragement, but can only take place where there is faithfulness to the gospel.

8. BAPTISM AND THE LORD'S SUPPER
We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper have been ordained by Christ and given to the Church as visible signs of the gospel. Baptism is to be administered only to those who can personally profess repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ and is to be conducted by totally immersing the person in water. It is a symbol of union with Christ, cleansing from sin and entry into his Church, but it does not impart spiritual life. The Lord's Supper is a commemoration of Christ's sacrifice offered once for all and is to be celebrated only by baptised believers who are living lives worthy of the gospel of Christ; it involves no change in the bread and wine and all its blessings are received by faith.

9. THE FUTURE
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will return in glory. He will raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness. The wicked will endure eternal punishment while the righteous will be welcomed into a life of eternal joy in fellowship with God. There will be a new heaven and a new earth in which God will be glorified forever.

This is a summary of what we believe; for a more detailed explanation
please read the 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith.

Please contact us if you would like further information